Mobile radio system capable of controlling base radio station without impossibility

ABSTRACT

A mobile radio system comprises first through N-th radio base stations, where N represents a positive integer which is greater than one. On a start-up sequence of an n-th radio base station, a base station control apparatus transmits an n-th individual identifier as a station identifier, to the n-th radio base station to allocate the n-th individual identifier to the n-th radio base station, where n is a variable between one and N, both inclusive. The base station control apparatus transmits a transmission message signal having the n-th individual identifier as a transmission individual identifier to the n-th radio base station to carry out a link connection between the base station control apparatus and the n-th radio base station. In the n-th radio base station, an ATM reception section compares the transmission individual identifier with the n-th station identifier to abandon the transmission message signal when the transmission individual identifier is not coincident with the n-th station identifier. A CPU makes the ATM reception section become a reset state when the ATM reception section continues to abandon the message signal during a predetermined time duration.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/213,773 filed Aug. 30, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,639,602, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/589,511 filed Jun. 8, 2000, abandoned, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a mobile radio system, and more particularly, to a link connection procedure in a mobile radio system using an asynchronous transmission mode (ATM).

In general, a mobile radio system is known which comprises a plurality of radio base stations each of which is connected to a base station control apparatus by an asynchronous transmission mode (ATM) fashion.

In such a system, it is necessary for header information of 24 bits in an ATM cell to have an individual value in each of the radio base stations inasmuch as the header information must be recognized in the base station control apparatus on carrying out transmission and reception between the base station control apparatus and each of the radio base stations. The header information may be representative of an identifier and may be called a VPI/VCI in ATM fashion. When each of the radio base stations starts up in the mobile radio system, the VPI/VCI is not determined in each of the radio base stations. Therefore, it is necessary to individually allocate the VPI/VCI to each of the radio base stations by the base station control apparatus.

The base station control apparatus manages the VPI/VCI of each radio base station. The VPI/VCI at the time of setting to each radio base station may be different from the VPI/VCI at the subsequent time, by mistake such as a line error, as will be described later.

Inasmuch as the radio base station carries out reception of a message signal in accordance with the VPI/VCI, it is impossible for a specific one of the radio base stations to receive the message signal when the VPI/VCI varies in the specific radio base station. It is impossible to control the specific radio base station by the base station control apparatus. As a result, it is necessary for a person to go to the place where the specific radio base station is installed, in order to reset the specific radio base station.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide a mobile radio system capable of preventing control of each of radio base stations from becoming impossible.

Other objects of this invention will become clear as the description proceeds.

On describing the gist of this invention, it is possible to understand that a mobile radio system comprises a base station control apparatus for controlling first through N-th radio base stations each of which is connected to said base station control apparatus, where N represents a positive integer which is greater than one. The base station control apparatus transmits first through N-th individual identifiers as first through N-th station identifiers to the first through the N-th radio base stations to allocate the first through the N-th individual identifiers to the first through the N-th radio base stations, respectively, on a start-up sequence of each of the first through the N-th radio base stations. The base station control apparatus transmits a transmission message signal having an n-th individual identifier as a transmission individual identifier to an n-th radio base station to carry out a link connection between the base station control apparatus and the n-th radio base station, where n is a variable between one and N, both inclusive.

According to this invention, the n-th radio base station comprises first means for comparing the transmission individual identifier with the n-th station identifier to abandon the transmission message signal when the transmission individual identifier is not coincident with the n-th station identifier and second means for making the first means become a reset state when the first means continues to abandon the transmission message signal during a predetermined time duration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a view for describing a link connection of a conventional mobile radio system;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a mobile radio system according to a preferred embodiment of this invention; and

FIG. 3 shows a view for describing a link connection in the mobile radio system illustrated in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, a link connection of a conventional mobile radio system will be described at first in order to facilitate an understanding of this invention. It will be assumed that a radio base station 11 starts up and that VPI/VCI=“1” should be allocated to the radio base station 11. At this time, it will be assumed that a base station control apparatus 12 allocates VPI/VCI=“2” to the radio base station 11 by mistake such as a line error. More particularly, the base station control apparatus 12 may transmit an allocation signal having VPI/VCI=“2” to the radio base station 11. In the radio base station 11, the allocation signal is received by an ATM cell reception section 11 a. Supplied with the allocation signal, a central processing unit (CPU) 11 b sets VPI/VCI=“2” in a VPI/VCI filter (not shown).

As readily understood from the above description, the base station control apparatus 12 recognizes that the VPI/VCI of the radio base station A is equal to “1”. Therefore, the base station control apparatus 12 makes the VPI/VCI be “1” in order to transmit a message signal to the radio base station 11. Inasmuch as the VPI/VCI filter actually has VPI/VCI=“2”, the radio base station 11 abandons the message signal having VPI/VCI=“1” and turns on a light to indicate an error.

When the base station control apparatus 12 again makes the VPI/VCI be “1” in order to transmit the message signal to the radio base station 11, the radio base station 11 abandons the message signal having VPI/VCI=“1” and turns on the light to indicate the error inasmuch as the VPI/VCI filter has VPI/VCI=“2”.

As described above, the base station control apparatus manages the VPI/VCI in each of the radio base stations. The VPI/VCI at the time of setting to each radio base station may be different from the VPI/VCI at the subsequent time, by mistake such as the line error.

Inasmuch as the radio base station carries out reception of a message signal in accordance with the VPI/VCI, it is impossible for a specific one of the radio base stations to receive the message signal when the VPI/VCI varies in the specific radio base station. It is impossible to control the specific radio base station by the base station control apparatus. As a result, it is necessary for a person to go to the place where the specific radio base station is installed, in order to reset the specific radio base station.

Referring to FIG. 2, description will proceed to a mobile radio system according to a preferred embodiment of this invention. The mobile radio system comprises first through N-th radio base stations 21-1 to 21-N which are connected to a base station control apparatus 22 by an ATM fashion, where N is a positive integer which is greater than one. Each of the radio base stations 21-1 to 21-N has first through N-th radio area, respectively. When a mobile station (not shown) is located in a specific one of the first through the N-th radio area, the mobile station communicates with a specific one of the first through the N-th radio base stations that has the specific radio area. In the example being illustrated, each of the first through the N-th radio base stations comprises a central processing unit (CPU) 21 a and an ATM data reception section 21 b. The base station control apparatus 22 transmits a transmission message signal to each of the first through the N-th radio base stations 21 to 21-N. The transmission message signal comprises a plurality of ATM cells each of which has a transmission VPI/VCI as transmission header information. In each of the first through the N-th radio base stations, the ATM data reception section 21 b filters the transmission VPI/VCI of each ATM cell to receive the ATM cell. More particularly, the ATM data reception section 21 b receives the ATM cell to transfer the ATM cell to the CPU 21 a when the transmission VPI/VCI of the ATM is coincident with an individual VPI/VCI. On the other hand, the ATM data reception section 21 b abandons the ATM cell when the transmission VPI/VCI of the ATM is not coincident with the individual VPI/VCI.

Referring to FIG. 3 in addition to FIG. 2, it will be assumed that an n-th radio base station 21-n starts up in accordance with a start-up sequence, where n is a variable between 1 and N, both inclusive. The individual VPI/VCI has not been set in the n-th radio base station 21-n yet. It will be assumed that the base station control apparatus 22 should allocate VPI/VCI=“1” to the n-th radio base station 21-n. At this time, it will be assumed that the base station control apparatus 22 allocates VPI/VCI=“2” to the n-th radio base station 21-n by mistake such as a line error. More particularly, the base station control apparatus 22 may transmit an allocation signal having VPI/VCI=“2” to the n-th radio base station 21-n by mistake such as a line error. In the n-th radio base station 21-n, the allocation signal is received by the ATM cell reception section 21 b. Supplied with the allocation signal, the CPU 21 a sets VPI/VCI=“2” in a VPI/VCI filter (not shown).

As readily understood from the above description, the base station control apparatus 22 recognizes that the individual VPI/VCI of the n-th radio base station 21-n is equal to “1”. Therefore, the base station control apparatus 22 makes the transmission VPI/VCI be “1” in order to transmit the transmission message signal to the n-th radio base station 21-n. Inasmuch as the VPI/VCI filter actually has VPI/VCI=“2”, the n-th radio base station 21-n abandons the message signal having VPI/VCI=“1” and indicates an error inasmuch as the VPI/VCI filter has the individual VPI/VCI=“2”. More particularly, the CPU 21 a detects the error when the ATM cell reception section 21 b indicates the error.

When the base station control apparatus 22 again makes the transmission VPI/VCI be “1” in order to transmit the transmission message signal to the n-th radio base station 21-n, the radio base station 11 abandons the transmission message signal having VPI/VCI=“1” and indicates an error inasmuch as the VPI/VCI filter has the individual VPI/VCI=“2”. More particularly, the CPU 21 a detects the error when the ATM cell reception section 21 b indicates the error.

As described above, the ATM cell reception section 21 b becomes an error state when the transmission VPI/VCI is not coincident with the individual VPI/VCI. When the error state continues during a predetermined time duration, the CPU 21 a resets the ATM data reception section 21 b to make the VPI/VCI filter become “no-set”. More particularly, the predetermined time duration lapses after the ATM cell reception section 21 b becomes the error state.

After the CPU 21 a resets the ATM data reception section 21 b, the base station control apparatus 22 again transmit an allocation signal having VPI/VCI=“1” to the n-th radio base station 21-n without a mistake such as a line error. In the n-th radio base station 21-n, the allocation signal is received by the ATM cell reception section 21 b. Supplied with the allocation signal, the CPU 21 a sets VPI/VCI=“1” in the VPI/VCI filter.

As readily understood from the above description, the base station control apparatus 22 recognizes that the individual VPI/VCI of the n-th radio base station 21-n is equal to “1”. Therefore, the base station control apparatus 22 makes the transmission VPI/VCI be “1” in order to transmit the transmission message signal to the n-th radio base station 21-n. Inasmuch as the VPI/VCI filter actually has VPI/VCI=“1”, the ATM data reception section 21 b receives the transmission message signal having VPI/VCI=“1” in the n-th radio base station 21-n. After the ATM data reception section 21 b receives the transmission message signal having VPI/VCI=“1” in the n-th radio base station 21-n, the ATM data reception section 21 b informs the CPU 21 a of a reception of the transmission message signal.

As described above, each of the radio base stations carries out a reset to wait for allocation of the individual VPI/VCI in case where the error state continues during the predetermined time duration in the start-up sequence of radio base station. Therefore, it is unnecessary for a person to go to a place where an error radio base station is installed, in order to reset the error radio base station, even if the transmission VPI/VCI is not coincident with the individual VPI/VCI by mistake such as a line error.

The CPU 21 a monitors the ATM cell reception section 21 b to detect the error state of the ATM cell reception section 21 b. When the error state continues in the ATM cell reception section 21 b during the predetermined time duration, the CPU 21 a judges that the transmission VPI/VCI is not coincident with the individual VPI/VCI. The CPU 21 a resets the ATM cell reception section 21 b. Therefore, it is possible to easily prevent control of each radio base station from becoming impossible it is unnecessary for a person to go to a place where an error radio base station is installed, in order to reset the error radio base station

While this invention has thus far been described in conjunction with the preferred embodiment thereof, it will readily be possible for those skilled in the art to put this invention into practice in various other manners. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A radio base station, comprising: a data reception section to: receive an allocation signal that includes first identification information, the allocation signal being received from a base station control apparatus, store the first identification information, receive, from the base station control apparatus, another signal that includes second identification information, generate an error signal indicating an error state when the second identification information is different from the first identification information; and a processor to: determine whether the error signal continues for a predetermined period of time, and store particular information indicating that the radio base station is in a reset state when the error signal continues for the predetermined period of time, the particular information replacing the stored first identification information.
 2. The radio base station of claim 1, where the allocation signal corresponds to a first signal and the other signal corresponds to a second signal, where the data reception section is further to: receive, from the base station control apparatus, a third signal that includes the second identification information after the particular information has been stored.
 3. The radio base station of claim 2, where the processor is further to store the second identification information, included in the third signal, based on the particular information being stored.
 4. The radio base station of claim 1, where the data reception section is further to disregard the other signal when the second identification information is different from the first identification information.
 5. The radio base station of claim 1, where the processor is further to: monitor the data reception section for the predetermined period of time; and detect the error signal based on monitoring the data reception section.
 6. The radio base station of claim 1, where the processor is further to: monitor the data reception section, and detect information regarding the error state of the data reception section based on monitoring the data reception.
 7. The radio base station of claim 1, where the allocation signal is received when the radio base station turns on.
 8. A system comprising: a radio base station to: receive, from a base station control apparatus, a first signal that includes first identification information; store the first identification information; receive, from the base station control apparatus, a second signal that includes second identification information; determine that the second identification information, is different from the stored first identification information; generate an error signal indicating an error state when the second identification information is different from the stored first identification information; determine whether the error signal continues for at least a predetermined period of time; and replace the stored first identification information with information indicating that the radio base station is in a reset state when the error signal continues for at least the predetermined period of time.
 9. The system of claim 8, where the radio base station is further to: receive a third signal that includes the second identification information after replacing the stored first identification information with the information indicating that the radio base station is in the reset state.
 10. The system of claim 9, where the radio base station is further to: store the second identification information, included in the third signal, based on replacing the stored first identification information with the information indicating that the radio base station is in the reset state.
 11. The system of claim 8, where the radio base station is further to: disregard the second signal, prior to receiving another signal from the base station control apparatus, when the second identification information is different from the stored first identification information.
 12. The system of claim 8, where, when determining that the error signal continues, the radio base station is to: monitor the error signal for at least the predetermined period of time.
 13. The system of claim 8, where the first signal corresponds to an allocation signal, and where the allocation signal is received when the radio base station turns on.
 14. The system of claim 8, where the radio base station is further to: receive, from the base station control apparatus, a third signal that includes the second identification information prior to replacing the stored first identification, and determine that the second identification information, included in the third signal, is different from the first identification information, where the error signal continues for at least the predetermined period of time based on determining that the second identification information, included in the third signal, is different from the first identification information.
 15. A method comprising: receiving, by a radio base station, an allocation signal that includes a first value; storing, by the radio base station, the first value; receiving, by the radio base station, a second value; generating, by the radio base station, an error signal when the second value is different from the stored first value; determining, by the radio base station, whether the error signal continues for a predetermined period of time; and replacing, by the radio base station, the stored first value with information indicating that the radio base station is in a reset state when the error signal continues for the predetermined period of time.
 16. The method of claim 15, where the allocation signal and the second value are received from a base station control apparatus, and where receiving the second value includes receiving the second value a first time, the method further comprising: receiving the second value a second time prior to replacing the stored first value; determining that the second value, received the second time, is different from the stored first value; and disregarding the second value, received the second time, based on determining that the second value, received the second time, is different from the stored first value.
 17. The method of claim 15, where the error signal continues for the predetermined period of time based on determining that the second value, received the second time, is different from the first value.
 18. The method of claim 15, further comprising: disregarding the second value when the second value is different from the stored first value.
 19. The method of claim 15, where the allocation signal is received when the radio base station turns on.
 20. The method of claim 15, where receiving the second value includes receiving the second value a first time, the method further comprising: receiving the second value a second time after replacing the stored first value; and storing the second value, received the second time, based on replacing the stored first value with the information indicating that the radio base station is in the reset state. 